On October 18th, 2025, nearly 7 million people participated in “No Kings” protests held across the United States and around the world, a show of solidarity against the Trump administration and its overreach of power. It is estimated that over 40 thousand of those protesters marched the streets of Portland Ore., many adorned in inflatable animal costumes. Costumed demonstrators have become the face of a movement to show that Portland is indeed not a war zone, as President Trump has insisted numerous times. People made art, played music, sang folk songs, and blew bubbles.
A common point of contention for many protesters was the increased activity and brutality of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the city. “No Kings” protesters verbally clashed with President Trump supporting counter-protesters on SW Natio Pkwy in Portland, Ore. The counter-protesters shouted words of hate against immigrants and used bullhorns to disrupt the peaceful protest. The Portland Police had to escort them through the crowd.
